UH Manoa College of Education alumna receives two prestigious Filipino American Awards

HONOLULU - Aida Ramiscal Martin, graduate of the College of Education Curriculum Studies Department at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, is the recipient of two distinguished Filipino American awards. She was named one of the Twenty Outstanding Filipinos Abroad (TOFA) during a three-day event in Washington D.C. last September. More recently, she was inducted into the Chicago Filipino American Hall of Fame at their 14th annual awards ceremony in November.

Sponsored by Filipino Image Magazine, the TOFA project was initiated in 1990 and has gained positive recognition from the governments of the United States, Canada, and the Philippines. "The global recognition from TOFA gave me the opportunity to meet face- to-face with illustrious physicians, lawyers, accountants, military men and women, and civic-minded citizens who have enhanced the positive and dynamic image of Filipinos throughout the world," Martin said.

The 2007 Chicago Filipino American Hall of Fame inductees include 23 outstanding individuals who promote positive images of the Filipino and demonstrate innovative civic responsibility through their field of interest or profession. More than 1,000 guests and dignitaries attended the event, including Philippine ambassador to the U.S. Willy Gaa.

Martin said she was overwhelmed, humbled, and immensely grateful on being selected. "This prestigious award, in turn, is for the UH Mānoa College of Education, especially Dr. Ann Bayer, my doctoral chair," she added.

Martin earned her Ed.D under Bayer‘s guidance in 1990 from Curriculum Studies, formerly the Curriculum & Instruction Department. "I‘m not surprised to learn of Aida Martin‘s national recognition as I remember her passion and determination as a doctoral student to make a contribution to the Filipino American community and to education," Bayer said. "It was an honor to work with her."